Sole-protector for boots and shoes.



L- F. C. HAAS.

SOLE PROTECTOR FOR BOOTS AND SHOES. APPLlQATlON man FEB. 7. 191a.

1,150,16Q. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

0% 11V VEZV TOR fi 4 W ripen LUIlWIG F. C. HAAS, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOLE-PROTECTOR FOR. BOOTS AND SHGES.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUDWIG F. C. HAAs, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Lan' caster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew by suitable protection, the sole of a shoe from excessive wear, the protector including such elements which do not impede the walk.-

tion, shorting the ing of the wearer when in position,

Another object of this 1nvention is to pro vide, in conjunction wlth the heel and toe protecting elements, interposed ball plates,. the latter being yieldingly mounted in such manner as to compensate for bending of the intermediate portion of the shoe.

A further object resides in the provision of a protector of the above-mentioned type, wherein the elements referred to are quickly and easily connectible to the adjacent portions of the shoe, means of simple construction being employed for attaining a rigidity thereof when in place.

A still further -object of this device is to provide a simple protector of the construction set forth above, which is highly characterized by elements of strength and lightness, the details thereof being so disposed as to obviously illustrate its durability. I

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is'better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangementeand combination of parts whicl will be hereinafter described and specifical ylpointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be' had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, and in which:'

Figure l is a side elevation of my invensame position upon a shoe Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1e, ieis.

Application filed February 7, 1913. Serial No. 746,840.

- of the usual construction, the contour-cithe dotted lines; Fig

latter being illustrated in 2 is a bottom plan view of the 'prr'atector, constructed in. accordance withmy'itivention; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the resilient connecting means between the ball plates before mentioned; and Fig. 4 .is a perspective view of the resilient connecting means mentioned.

Referringnow more particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein 1s illustrated' the preferred embodiment of my invention, the latter broa dly consists of respective heel and toe protecting elements having interposed therebetween arch and ball plates, as before described. Consistent with the above, resilient connecting contrivances are employed for connection between certain elements, to compensate for bending of the shoe. at certain times.

My invention more essentially consists of a heel protecting element 10, the body thereof being of the same dimensions as the under surface of the heel of an ordinary shoe. However, the same is provided with rear and side connecting plates 12 and 13, respectively, which receive suitable fastening means 14, as shown. By positioning the fastening plates, as illustrated, means are provided for attaining the complete rigidity of the heel protecting portion while in place, thus obviating danger of the same Working loose, and causing discomfort to the wearer.

The forward extremity of theheel protecting member is bent to assume the position shown in Fig. 1, and provides an upstanding element 15, materially reduced in diameter or size to form an eiiicient pivotal mount for the arch plate presently to be described. The greatest stress is laid upon the simplicity of the heel protecting element, in' View of the fact that the component portions thereof are each formed integral with the body, thus decreasingcost of manufactureto a material. extent.

The pivotal mount 15, before described, 'is,'rolled at its upper extremity to form a lateral sleeve 16, which when in position lies closely adjacent other sleeves 17 on an arch plate 18. H The arch plate mentioned is bent to conform with the contour of the arch por- I the simplicity of the portion of the heel protector and "the-shoe, the same is broadened at its for-.

ward extremity to provide diametrically opposite protuberances 19. Stress is laid upon arch plate, in ,view of the integral connection existing between its component elements.

\Vith view of pivotally connecting thfi arc plate 18, a transversely bent element.20 is employed which is received through the sleeves l6 and 17, respectively, as shown. After a pin element 20 is disposed in place, lateral movement of the'component parts will belimited. However, a vertical oscillatory movement will be permitted in order to facilitate attachment of the device to the shoe and it will compensate for the bending thereof at certain times.

The protuberances 19, before mentioned, are provided at certain opposite points with upstanding lip elements 21 which are provided at a medial point with a transverse opening 22. Normally, the lip portions 21 extend upwardly adjacent the sides of the shoe sole inorder to prevent lateral move ment of the arch plate and provide mechanism subsidiary to the yieldable supporting means, before mentioned, for .assuring connection of the ball plates.

The toe protecting portion, tioned, consists of a body portion 23, which is adapted to extend upwardly about the forward portion of the toe of the shoe, a transverse plate 2%]: being provided to extend beneath and engage the shoe sole adjacent thereto. The toe element is preferably constructed of a der to reduce 'cost of manufacture, and at the same time increase durability of the contrivance.

The rear extremity of the toe protecting element is provided with opposite tongues upstanding projections ing supporting means 25, which are normally in alinement with the sides of the shoe sole, and are provided with transverse openings 26 for reception 0 the yieldable connecting elements, before stated.

The ball plates mentioned consists of elongated parallel alined members 27 provided at their respective extremities with 28 for engagement with the sides of the shoe sole, as designated in Fig. 1. The ballplates are normally disposed between the plate 24 and arch element mentioned. However,'yieldable means are provided for assuring connection therewith and allowing the same to be supported in spaced-apart relation. With aview of providfor the ball plates, the

before men-.

single piece of material in orupstanding portions, the several springs to preclude displacement.

projections 28 are provided with spaced-apart apertures 29 adjacent-their upper extremis ties, which serve to receive the said means when in place] The yieldable supporting contrivances consist essentially in, a metallic resilient wire bent intermediate its ends to form a coil 30, leg portions 31 extending from the'coil to provide upturned engaging portions 32. One of the engaging portions 32 is disposed through the opening in one of the tongue elements 25, while the other engaging portions, is inserted through one of the openings 29 in the adjacent projection 28. The other connecting elements are disposed insubstantially the same manner, and as apparent provide yieldable connecting means which compensate for bending of the intermediate portion of the shoeat different times. Y In order to efficiently support the connecting elements and allow the same to normally attain a substantially vertical position, transverse laces 33 are provided whlch connect the coil portions 30, as illustrated. Any form of laces may be employed without in any way departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention.

The advantages resultant from the use of my invention will be readily. comprehende by those conversant with the crude and unsatisfactory devices heretofore provided in this art. Such changes as are permissible by the subjoined claims may be inserted without departing from the spirit of my invention. I Having thus fullydescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure Letters Patent is 1. A device of the character described including a toe protecting element, a plurality of ball plate members, an arch plate member, and means including a plurality of resilient memb ers connecting the said toe protecting element with one of the said ball plate members and one of, plate members with the said arch plate arranged to permit vertical as well as longitudinal movement with respect to the sole of he said ball the shoe, as and for the purpose set forth.,'

2. In a sole protector a plurality of protector plates, an upstanding portion formed upon each plate extremity to overlap the sole of the shoe, in-

for boots and shoes,

dividua'l coil springs connecting the adjacent and means connecting.

a plurality of ball plate memmembers and the said ball plate members v with the said arch plate, said strands per- In testimony whereof .I aflix my signature mitting vertical as well as longitudinal in presence of-two witnesses. movement of the said members with respect to the sole of the shoe, andmeans arranged 5 to pass over the shoe, said means connect- Witnesses: g

ing the respective strands; as and for the JOHN GEORGE KAMM, purpose set forth. GEORGE WARFEL.

LUDWIG F. 0. HAAS. 

